Specialty Tropicals

Specialty Tropicals Specialty Tropicals
A World for Plant Collectors

Specialty Tropicals is a working greenhouse focused on specialty tropical plants for collectors.

Root & Relic is our curated collection of goods, tools, and supplies for botanical living. Specialty Tropicals is a small, family-operated nursery specializing in mail-order sales of collector-grade tropical plants including Orchids, Nepenthes, Clerodendrum, Passiflora, Aristolochia, and others. In-person visits may be arranged by appointment only.

10/30/2026
10/19/2026
Have you met an extinct species today??Brighamia insignis, commonly known as Hawai'ian Palm, Signal Palm, or it's indige...
10/17/2026

Have you met an extinct species today??

Brighamia insignis, commonly known as Hawai'ian Palm, Signal Palm, or it's indigenous name of Alula, was once found only in specific parts of the islands of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau in the US state of Hawai'i. Considered to be completely extinct in the wild since 2019, it is one of many species of plants and animals that are kept alive solely through the efforts of humans.

Brighamia is actually a member of the family Campanulaceae, which includes the beautiful scarlet Cardinal Flower that blooms in summer in moist places here in the Blue Ridge Mountains, as well as the bright blue Balloon Flower often grown in borders and beds. While it isn't related to true Palms at all, it probably gets its name from the fact that each leaf leaves behind a leaf scar when it falls, looking much like the trunks of trimmed Palmetto or other Palms.

It is a caudex plant--meaning that it has a specialized water-storage organ (the caudex) at the base of the stem, just above the soil line. This serves as a reservoir to help the plant through dry spells, since its native habitat is in rocky volcanic soil in Hawai'i. In cultivation, these need to be grown in a porous, airy soil mix and watered a couple of times a week during their active growing cycle (Spring-Fall.)

The yellow blossoms smell like Honeysuckle and fortunately, it's fairly easy for us to pollinate them by hand in the greenhouse and allow them to set seed, which can be used to produce new specimens.

In the past, it was sadly not uncommon for zoos, botanical gardens, and private hobbyists to contribute to the extinction of species from the wild. Thankfully, we live in an era when those same organizations and individuals provide a lifeline to prevent the genetic material of rare species from being permanently erased from the earth. Many animals and especially plants (thanks to the marvels of in-vitro tissue culture) are far more plentiful in cultivation than in the wild. And when institutions and individuals breed new specimens and exchange them with others, they insure genetic diversity and the continuation of these marvels of Creation!

https://www.specialtytropicals.com/product-page/brighamia-insignia-hawai-ian-palm

Hoya blossoms are always a delight, not least because they’re usually a surprise! This Hoya carnosa ‘Krinkle’ was cheer...
10/16/2026

Hoya blossoms are always a delight, not least because they’re usually a surprise! This Hoya carnosa ‘Krinkle’ was cheerily blooming in its 6 inch hanging basket when we came to work today. (Steve reports that they have a very mild floral scent.)

Have you seen a “rock” bloom?Today as Steve was checking plants in the retail greenhouse, this little guy was sporting a...
10/12/2026

Have you seen a “rock” bloom?

Today as Steve was checking plants in the retail greenhouse, this little guy was sporting a feathery blossom bigger than the plant itself!

Lithops (aka Living Stones) are amazing small plants native to South Africa, Namibia, and small parts of Angola and Botswana. They grow in rocky and grassy habitat, where their remarkable camouflage helps them escape the notice of grazing animals.

A large percentage of the few dozen known species of Lithops are endangered in the wild but fortunately, they’re extremely easy to grow and propagate in cultivation.

These plants are ideal for the indoor gardener looking for a conversation piece that’s also super easy to grow! They should receive no water at all during winter, and the rest of the year should get just a light sprinkle every few weeks. It’s important to pot them in narrow, deep pots to accommodate their long tap root, using a medium with lots of gravel, sand, and perlite and very little organic matter. Lithops naturally produce offsets, forming clumps as they mature. These “pups” can be separated for separate potting or sharing with friends.

https://www.specialtytropicals.com/search?q=Lithops

🥵 it’s HAWT in here!!
10/02/2026

🥵 it’s HAWT in here!!

Big shout out to our newest top fans! 💎Drop a comment to welcome them to our community,
09/16/2026

Big shout out to our newest top fans! 💎

Drop a comment to welcome them to our community,

Address

879 Forest Hill Drive
Marion, NC
28752

Opening Hours

Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+18285276331

Website

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